Corona del Mar Knocks Off 10th-Ranked Laguna Beach

It took three hours, but unranked Corona del Mar finally toppled Laguna Beach, ranked 10th in Orange County, 14-16, 15-7, 9-15, 15-13, 17-15, in a Pacific Coast League girls’ volleyball match Tuesday at Corona del Mar High.

Corona del Mar’s Dimitra Havriluk notched her 40th kill for a side out, then her 43rd and 44th digs helped set up teammate Jamie Brownell for the match-winning spike from the left side.

Corona del Mar sophomore setter Jacqueline Becker had 64 assists and 22 digs, middle blocker Meghan Gallagher had 19 kills and five blocks, and Brownell had 14 kills and 31 digs to help the Sea Kings rally from a two-games-to-one deficit.

“They played better defense when it counted tonight,” Laguna Beach Coach Shawn Patchell said.

The victory gave Corona del Mar (3-2, 1-0 in league) the early inside track to the league title over Laguna Beach (1-5, 0-1), the 11-time defending league champion.

Kellie Cramm had 31 kills, six blocks and 32 digs for the Artists, who actually had a match point in the fifth game.

A kill by Sara Salem and another by Valerie Kubisak gave Laguna Beach the lead, 15-14, but Gallagher and Becker combined to block Kubisak for a side out on match point.

Havriluk, who had 11 kills in Game 5, pulled Corona del Mar even, 15-15, with a kill. Then a hitting error by the Artists set the stage for the Sea Kings’ victory.